Charleston climate case sparks national security debate in federal court

A South Carolina judge questioned whether a local lawsuit accusing oil companies of climate deception could undermine national security, as President Trump’s executive order claims.

Karen Zraick reports for The New York Times.

In short:

The City of Charleston is suing ExxonMobil, Chevron, and others for allegedly misleading the public about climate risks, arguing their actions intensified the impact of global warming on the flood-prone coastal city.
President Trump issued an executive order declaring such lawsuits a threat to national security; federal lawyers have used it to try to stop other states from filing similar suits.
Judge Roger M. Young Sr. appeared skeptical of Charleston’s arguments but has not ruled; the case raises broader questions about whether state courts are appropriate venues for global climate disputes.

Key quote:

“This lawsuit is not seeking to solve climate change, but quite candidly, it’s so the city has the money to survive it.”

— Matt Edling, attorney for the City of Charleston

Why this matters:

As seas rise and storms intensify, local governments across the U.S. face mounting costs to protect communities from climate-driven damage. Charleston, a historic city at the water’s edge, has become a frontline for legal efforts aimed at holding fossil fuel companies financially accountable — not for future emissions, but for past public messaging. If courts side with cities like Charleston, it could set a precedent allowing local jurisdictions to recoup climate-related costs, shifting financial liability from taxpayers to oil and gas companies. But the legal landscape is uneven. Some states have advanced similar claims, while others have seen their lawsuits dismissed. President Trump’s executive order labeling such cases a threat to national security adds a new layer of complexity, turning local litigation into a flashpoint in national policy.

www.nytimes.com

Charleston climate case sparks national security debate in federal court

EU’s $750 billion pledge for U.S. energy imports faces steep hurdles

Alberta taxpayers cover millions in unpaid land rents from oil and gas firms

Australia expands renewable energy push with major increase to capacity investment scheme

Trump’s FEMA cuts leave local emergency managers underfunded and overworked

Wyoming weighs nuclear waste storage rule change amid public pushback over microreactor plant

China and Europe vow joint climate action as US exits Paris accord

Brazil’s Amazon city prepares for climate summit as world leaders face realities of deforestation and poverty

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.